Eighteen mighty DAFer’s flew to L00 Rosamond, for a noon time lunch March 13, 2021 at the new (relatively speaking!) Guido’s @ The Hangar for a great lunch. We had 10 airplanes of fearless flyers who arrived through the expected typical desert winds and cheap air (ie turbulence). I think we were all so happy to escape LA and meet up after many long months! The winds proved mighty but many of us arrived alive and enjoyed our renewed gatherings!
The clouds prevailed Saturday morning preventing the official DAF fly-in to San Diego for lunch; however, that did not stop several DAFers from flying IFR to Montgomery for lunch at Casa Machado Restaurant. 4 planes and 10 DAFers enjoyed a delicious lunch overlooking the airport on Cas Machado patio.
Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me…
Six planes and ten DAFers made their way to the Airport In the Sky for lunch. We enjoyed lunch on the patio of the DC-3 Grill. The buffalo burgers and DC-3 Grill cookies are never disappointing. The pilots were challenged not by clouds but smoky skies from all the wildfires in California. The smoke decreased visibility as we departed KTOA. The Airport In the Sky was above the smoke layer. After lunch several DAFers decided to challenge themselves and took the Airport Loop hike in the hot and smoky air. The smarter DAFers socialized and enjoyed the shade on the patio. Six DAFers stayed at Catalina and camped at the airport Saturday night. They enjoyed a pleasant evening that included our traditional happy hour and a potluck dinner. The campers enjoyed fresh coffee and treats upon awakening. The airport was peaceful in the morning. Then back to the DC-3 Grill for breakfast before departing back home.
Photo: clockwise from the left: Neal, Anthony, Robert, Jim, Lynda, Gary, Linda, Jeff and taking the photo is Laurice.
Once again June Gloom had it's way with the annual Flaming Brisket Fly-in. A lovely flight to Santa Ynez to sit out and enjoy the view turned into an arduous trek to the East Ts picnic table! Despite the grey skies, 40 DAFers made the journey to visit, get out of the house, and have some of Mitch's smoked brisket. It was a chance to catch up with people we hadn't seen for quite a while and enjoy the fresh air, and everyone made the most of it! Once again the Flyers showed their true colors, making the best of whatever comes their way. Next year, though, maybe the Brisket will move to July and escape the weather!
We had 17 DAFers make it to the May 30 Kern Valley Airport picnic lunch. The weather cooperated and 8 airplanes made the trip, and we even had two planes that stayed to camp at the airport and enjoy beautiful Kern Valley. The cafe had just opened up the previous week, and most of us partook lunch on the spacious deck. Lots of blue skies and a light breeze at the airport made for a great spring afternoon.
We had plenty of room to spread out, and all of us enjoyed being outside. Was a nice chance to chat with those we have not seen in a while. Most of us ventured for the short walk down to the river before we headed home. We all enjoyed the tailwind boost on the way to Kern, paid for it on the way back but it was all worth it. Click here for more pics!
Our first Blue Skies Outing to Santa Ynez was cancelled Saturday morning due to to marginal weather. A few decided to fly about nearer to home. Some DAFers came up with an alternative. They drove their cars to the TOA ramp and, at a substantial social distance, enjoyed their self-cater picnic lunches separately. But all enjoyed watching the aeronautical traffic come and go on a beautiful Spring day at TOA.
Our February 15th 2020 Fly-In took us to the Classic Rotors museum located on Ramona airport near San Diego. 18 DAFers attended a briefing at the Torrance GAC, and everyone took off for Ramona. In spite of our speed diferences we managed to keep the KRNM tower crew working hard as we all arrived pretty much in a bunch. The tower fit us into the pattern and there was plenty of excellent tie-down space.The staff of the Classic Rotors museum met us with 2 shuttle cars and ferried us to the museum (about 500') where we received a fascinating introduction to the Du Pont DP-1, a vertical take-off jet no one has heard of. The speaker had hovered and flown test flights in this aircraft (link here).
After this 1st lecture we had a huge BBQ lunch brought in the the staff, served in the museum's shaded outdoor seating area. No one left lunch hungry; it was an awesome display of BBQ finesse. During lunch Kel Vanderlip's high-school classmate Tom Pierpoint drove in from San Diego with memorabilia for the museum: Tom's father was the 3rd engineer hired by Frank Piasecki!
The museum staff took us in to the museum hanger in groups of 4-6, each with an expert guide, and regailed us with technical information, great stories, and views of helicopers (many flyable) which the museum had rescued and restored. The effort the staff have put into this acqusition and restoration task is almost too much to contemplate, but we were the benficiaries, and everyone come out more knowledable on the utility, quirks, dangers and joys of rotary wing aircraft.
So, a special thanks to museum President Mark DiCiero, organizer Chip Lancaster, and guides Terry Robinson, Joe Gwizdak, Howard Northrup, Bruce Klingman and Kevin Riedy for all their work setting up the transportation, exhiibits, lunch and tours. And more thanks to those Del Amo Flyers who came out and made the day possible!
Our first "fly-in" of 2020 was great fun. We had 26 people, DAFers and friends convene at the GAC early in the morning Saturday January 25 and took a luxury tour coach to the Peterson Automotive Museum. The morning weather was not too friendly, but the luxury coach make for an easy trip to the museum.First on the itinerary was a personal highlights tour, Leslie or docent gave us a wonderful introduction to the Peterson and some history of it. This gave us all a good overview and allowed us to revisit areas of interest. Leslie let us know some interesting trivia; informed us what the Peterson building once was, how the outside came to be, how the 'Miracle mile' name came to be. Once we had finished the tour it was free time, we had time for lunch and wander around the the museum taking in the collection.
The Peterson had a number of special exhibits going on such as Hollywood Dream Machines: vehicles of science fiction and fantasy; Building an electric future. If you ever wanted to see the DeLorean from Back to the Future, it was on display but we did not get a chance to get it up to 88mph as security was watching. Most all of us had lunch at the Drago Ristorante in the museum, and continued exploring.
A few people took a tour of the vault at the Peterson, where they large collection not typically on display. Quite a few ventured outside and to other museums later in the afternoon as the weather had improved, the La Brea Tar Pits was popular destination. After a long but enjoyable day, DAFers were ready for the return-home Happy Hour. Wine and snacks were freely distributed.
Thanks to all that made it and hope everyone had a great time!
Photos here DAF Peterson pictures